A health care proxy is a document that allows you to designate another person to serve as your healthcare agent. The agent becomes empowered to make healthcare decisions for you when you are unable to make or communicate such decisions yourself.

A health care proxy is different from a "living will" in that it is not a specific directive regarding what kind of medical treatment you do or do not want performed, or whether you wish to be resuscitated or taken off artificial life support. Instead, it is a document that appoints a trusted person to make any health care decision on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself. While you are free to give written instructions to your agent, it can be very difficult to anticipate every medical situation that may arise. If you have a health care proxy, however, your agent has the power to make whatever decision he or she believes you would want them to make in an emergency.

A health care proxy is currently the best way to express binding advance medical directions in Massachusetts because it has been approved by our Legislature and is universally recognized by doctors and hospitals. You may wish to supplement your health care proxy with a living will, however, to ensure that your appointed agent is aware of any specific wishes you may have regarding life sustaining measures.